Aramis, Cust, Carmona

Since coming over to the Cubs from Pittsburg during the 2003 season, Aramis Ramirez has consistently hit home runs at the pace of about one every four games played. Check it out:
2003 63 g 15 HR 4.2 g/HR
2004 145 g 36 HR 4.03 g/HR
2005 123 g 31 HR 3.97 g/HR
2006 157 g 38 HR 4.13 g/HR
2007 34 g 9 HR 3.78 g.HR
Oops! He hit one out today, so he's getting a little ahead of himself with 10 in 35 games so far in 2007, a rate of one every 3.5 games. Still, it's not a crime to IMPROVE on consistency!

And how about rookie outfielder Jack Cust with the A's. The 28 year old has now hit 7 HR's (and struck out 15 times--oh, well) in 10 games since being called up earlier this month. His hit totals so far are 2 singles, 1 double and the 7 dingers.

One more turnaround of note: Pitcher Fausto Carmona of the Indians is now 5-1 this year with a 2.55 ERA after hurling a 4-hit shutout today. This after a horrible rookie year in 2006, when he went 1-10 with a 5.42 ERA.

Are guys like Cust and Carmona worth adding to a fantasy team based on a few weeks' spectacular play? Such additions are chancy. Last month I added troubled former top draft pick Josh Hamilton to my roster based on 5 HR's in his first 30 AB's. He's since hit an unspectacular 3 HR's in 87 AB's. Similarly, I added the Cards' John Rodriguez when his average was well over .400 in mid-May last year. A month later, a slump had knocked him down to a maybe once-a-week starter. I think he's out of the big leagues now.